I've just subscribed to Ottobre magazine. They do sizes by height. My 6 yr old is on the small side; she is 117cms, which is a toddler size according to Ottobre. She is also much smaller around than their sizes, 3 cms in the chest, and 10cms at the hip.

Will toddler patterns be the right shape for a 6 yr old?

Is it better to use the size they give for her height, or for her circumference? I want to make her some pants, and 10 cms seems a lot to take in. But if I added length to the smaller size, I wouldn't know where to add it, just all in the legs?

Oh you're going to love Ottobre! I have tall skinny kids and what usually works for me, is going by their chest/waist/hip measurements and then adding length to accomodate their height. Today I made my son a tank top in a 110, he's actually more a 98 in measurements around, but is about 110 tall. The top is a bit big around on him, but it's fine with the style that it is. I guess it all boils down to the garment and how you'd like it to fit her. It's really easy to flat pattern measure since there are no seam allownaces on the pattern pieces. For pants, you might need to lengthen in the crotch and the leg, but you'll be able to answer this better once you have a magazine and can measure.

As for the "toddler" sizes, I think you'll find that many of the styles will be suitable for her - they often overlap, some more "toddlerish" and some more grown-up.

Also, you might consider joining the Ottobre-English yahoo group. This is a list about Ottobre magazine only (no other sewing stuff intermixed) and the ladies on the list are very helpful. You can subscribe to the emails or just read on the list.

I hope you find this info helpful!

------"The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain." ~Dolly Parton

I wouldn't worry too much about the "toddler" label--I don't know why they use it--"young child" would be a better label. My 8 yo is still in toddler sizes, according to Ottobre. Only the infant sizes have diaper allowance, so don't worry about the shape; it should be right. Sometimes I trace a size smaller in width than length (even though by their measurements they may be 2 or more sizes smaller in width than length , I usually only go down one size.) I'm not sure how clear I was, so I'll try to explain it better. If my child was in the 110 size by height but smaller in width and I was tracing pants, I would trace all the 104 lines for the side seams/crotch seams/inseams but I would extend them up to the 110 lines for the waist and the hem of the pants and then trace the 110 lines. I hope that is a clear explaination.

Wow, Ottobre sounds like it would be ideal for my granddaughters. They are definitely small boned, and skinny to boot! 2yo = 15lbs and 4yo = 21 lbs. While Toddler patterns work ok for the 4 year old now (with height adjustments) this sounds like it would be easier. And I like that you say they have no seam allowances. Can you tell me where I can subscribe to the magazine?
Thank you,
Janyce

Hally, if you have been sewing with Big 3 patterns for kids, you are going to be delighted with Ottobre sizing. My four year old daughter is very thin. For her I sew up a size in height and then go down one size from that in width. (i.e. if her height measures a 98, I sew her a 104 height and 98 width.) Even though her measurements would call for a much thinner size the clothes turn out as we like them. If you sew exactly to her measurements, she'll grow out of them after eating two bananas.

By the way, my mag. refers to the 92-122 cm range as "girls and boys", and the styles in this range are totally appropriate for a 6y/o. I'd recommend you start with a 122.

This has been so helpful! This summer's issue of Ottobre was my first for DD and I think I overcompensated for her skinniness. (I've been used to trying to use the Big 4.) A shirt I made for DD came out kind of small, which is the opposite problem I usually have. So what you are all saying is that I can probably pick a size based on my moderately thin DD's height?

If you do go down quite a bit in sizing, check the hip/behind area sizing closely as the really younger ones are more meant to accommodate a diaper.

I sew for a skinny guy too. I usually go a size or two smaller in size (as compared to where I would choose based on height) and just trace out to the correct height. With all of the multisizing, this is an easy process.

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